Bernie Slaven
Full Name: Bernard Joseph Slaven
Nickname: Slav
Date of birth: November 13th 1960
Place of Birth: Paisley, Scotland
Playing Position: Forward
Shirt Number: 7
Senior Clubs:
Boro (381 appearances, 147 goals), Darlington, Morton, Airdrie, Queen of the South, Albion Rovers, Port Vale
National Team:
Republic of Ireland (7 caps, 1 goal)
Career Highlight:
Commentating on the Boro’s glorious Carling Cup victory of 2004 and being part of the first ever Boro side to play at Wembley
Bernie Slaven may well be thebest buy the Boro ever made. Willie Maddren spotted him after he picked up the Scottish Golden boot for Albion Rovers netting 31 goals in a Season. Maddren bagged his for a mere £25k and so began the ongoing romance between Bernie and the Boro.
In 381 appearances in the Boro’s number 7 shirt Bernie bagged 147 goals and isn’t merely a legend on Teesside but more of an adopted son. Former Boro favourite Big Jack Charlton gave Bernie a call up for the Republic of Ireland for whom he picked up 7 caps, though to listen to him you can’t help but get the impression that the man is a natural born Scotsman.
Towards the end of his career Bernie headed up the river Tees to Darlington for a stint at the Quakers and the goals continued to flow. But his big passion is for the Boro and with over 500 appearances doing the Boro commentary, there are few who can match Bernie as an authority on Middlesbrough FC
